This weekend we…. Did some Californian wine dreaming

Is it wine o’clock yet?

It might have been freezing cold outside, but we were busy imagining sunshine at a special Californian wine tasting event. Usually, when faced with a wine list, we have to admit our eyes tend to hover over the Australian Sauvignon Blancs or the French Merlots. But after years of neglect, Californian wine is beginning to elbow its way back into our hearts.

At The Vineyard hotel and restaurant in Newbury, Berkshire, both wine buffs and the completely oblivious (that’ll be us then) can taste and learn about a whole host of wine – the ‘sold by the glass’ menu alone has over 100 varieties to choose from – which kind of beats the standard five or six you get in most restaurants.

The Vineyard, Newbury

And while they stock wine from across the globe, The Vineyard are particular experts in Californian varieties – which is why we headed there for the ultimate tasting experience. Over 50 different bottles of Californian’s finest were opened and we got to try as many as we liked – with lots of delicious cooked meats, cheeses, breads and crackers on hand to soak it up. From Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays to Cabernet Sauvignons and Zinfandels we were totally won over by the fruity, flavour-packed vintages. Afterwards, there was also a chance to buy some of the bottles as The Vineyard is one of the biggest retaillers of Californian wine in the UK.

To-die-for dessert

After a quick trip to detox at the hotel’s spa we headed to the restaurant to enjoy an incredible dinner cooked by one of our favourite Saturday Kitchen chefs, Daniel Galmiche. The five-course menu included beautifully prepared Cornish seabass, free range pork ribeye with spinach and English rhubarb with Victoria sponge and lime meringue. And each dish was matched with two different Californian wines – so we could choose our favourite.

Get a good night’s sleep

Lucky it was just a short stagger to one of the hotel’s swish bedrooms for some shut-eye. After a great night’s sleep, the next morning we were met (surprisingly) not with a foggy head, but instead with a delicious breakfast of Eggs Benedict washed down with plenty of orange juice.

As we left The Vineyard on Sunday morning, the snow might have started to fall, but at least inside we were still dreaming of California.

Wine tasting experiences at The Vineyard cost from £30. For a list of upcoming events, such as ‘Chocolate and wine hedonism’ click here

Lunch at The Vineyard restaurant costs from £15 for one course with a glass of wine. Rooms cost from £199 per night.

For more information visit www.the-vineyard.co.uk